Child&#39;s vehicle



L KUNST.

' CHILD'S VEHICLE.

APPLICATION HLED APR20 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET L Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

J. KUNST.

CHILD'S VEHICLE.

APPLICATION HLED APR. 20, 1915.

Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

anuenroz %W UNITED STATES JOHN KUNST, or NEW YORK, N. Y. i

CHILUS VEHICLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 17, 1922.

Application filed April 20, 1916. Serial No. 92,565.

To (ZZ whom it may 00916-67 72 Be it known that I, J OHN KUNsT, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Children@ Vehicles, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to a toy popularly known as a ridamobile The object of the invention is to provide a simple, strong, durable and practical toy of this class, which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

A further object is to design the individual parts of the device so that they may be readily and correctly assembled by comparatively inexperienced hands.

A further and more detailed object is to provide a device comprising a platform member and a steerng member, and to provide metallic parts connecting these members to afford a simple pivotal connection, and to provide an improved means of connecting the metallic parts to at least one of said members, and adapt metallic parts for the connection of a pull string, if desired.

A further object is to provide a foot-rest and improved means for mounting the same.

A further object is to provide improved means for elevating and supporting the rear end of the platform member.

A further object is to provide improved means for attaching the handle grip to the steering member.

A further object is to provide improved means for mounting and connecting the rear wheels of the device.

` Other objects and aims of the invention,

more or less specific than those referred to above, will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the course of the following description of the elements, combinations, arrangements of parts and 'applications of principles, constituting the invention; and the scope of protection contemplated Wlll be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanyingidrawings which are to be taken as a part of this specification, and in which I have shown a merely preferred form of embodiment of the inventionz Figure l is a perspective view of a device constructed in accordance with the provisions of this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view through the device illustrated in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational View of the steering member detached.

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the platform member and elevating means therefor, parts being shown in section for disclosing details of Construction.

Figur-es 5 and 6 are fragmentary detail views illustrating the Construction of, and manner of attaching to the platform member one of the members employed to connect the platform and steering members together.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view taken upon the plane of line VII- VII of Fig. 3.

Figure 8 is an elevational view illustrating a modification.

Figures 9, 10 and ll are fragmentary detail views, illustrating the manner of connecting the handle grip at the upper end of the steering member.

Referring to the drawings for a detailed description of the parts 'illustrated therein, the reference characterL indicates the platform member, and Gr the steering member. 4

The rear end of the platform member is supported upon a' pedestal H fixed to the under side` thereof and being fitted with a pair of wheels l. The wheels are preferably received in slots 2 extending upwardly from the bottom edge of the pedestal. The intermediate portion ofthe material of the pedestal is omitted, so that those portions which form the walls of the slots 2 constitute two pairs of downwardly eXtending legs, one wheel being supported between the two legs of one par, and the other leg being supported between the two legs of the other pair. suitable aXial members 3 are provided for rotatably supporting the wheels. One of these aXial members is provided for each pair of legs, and each is provided with a lock nut 4, by means of which it is securely'held lIl poston.

The pedestal member may be connected to the under side of the platform member in any desired manner, but is preferably connected by a pair of bolts 5, said bolts eX- tending through the material of the platform member and downwardly through the material of the pedestal, as best seen in Fig. 4. The lower ends of the bolts open into the slots 2 and suitable clamp nuts 6 are provided. WVashers, or their equivalent, 7 are provided between the clamp nuts and the upper end walls of the slots 2. The bolts 5 effectively strengthen the material of the the pedestal being of appreciablewidth,

' there is little likelihood of lateral movement.

Ifdesired, the washers 7 may in fact comprise the ends of brace straps 8, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. NVhere the brace straps are employed the same extend from connection with the bolts 5 diagonally upwardly to the under surface of` the platform member. Their upper ends may be connected to the platform member spaced apart, or they may be connected by a single screw or bolt, as

indicated at 9 in Figs. 1 and 2.

The connecting elements between the steel-ing member and the platform member comprise essentially two castings 10 and 11, the casting 10 being fixed to the steering member and the casting 11 being fixed to the platform member. The casting 10 is provided with a pair of rearwardly eXtending ears 12 and the casting 11 is provided with a pair of forwardly extending ears which are disposed between the ears 12. A pivot pin 13 extends through mating apertures in all of the ears. i

The casting llis provided with a web-like extension 14 disposed to project rearwardly into a slot 15 formed in theforward end of the platform member. A top flange 16 extends along the upper edge of the web 14 and lies fiat against the upper surface of the platform member, and a lower flange 17 extends along the lower edge of the web 14 and rests closely against the under surface of the platform member. A vertical fiange 18 is formed at the forward end of the web and is disposed to lie against the forward end of the platform member. The web 1 1 is formed with an aperture 19. i

The spaces formed by the flanges 16, 17 and 18 dene pockets at opposite sdes of the web 14, within which portions of the platform member nest.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate graphically the manier in which the platform member is connected to the casting 11. In these figures it will be seen that a screw 20 having a tapered point is carried by the platform member for engaging within the aperture 19. In Fi 5 the screw is shown just prior to entering the aperture. The forward end of the running board is not yet in tight engagement with the flange 18, and the side walls of the slot 15 are not in tight engagement with. the opposite surfaces of the Web 14. As the screw is driven through the opening 19 however,

its pointed or beveled end engages the rear wall of the aperture 19 and forces the casting backwardlyso as to bring the flange 18 against the forward end of the platform member. As the screw is driven home it will naturally cause the portions of the platform member at opposite sides of the slot 15 to be squeeaed toward each other against the opposite sides of i the web 14. platform member. The upper end'edge of i The final position of the parts is illustrated in Fig. 6. y

By this means it will he seen that no great degree of accuracy is required in fashioning the parts. ordinary manufacturer will be corrected by the simple act of driving the screw 20 and a strong and substantial joint insured. It will be inpossible for the parts to become disengaged so long as the screw is in position.

In attaching the casting 10 to the steering member said casting is provided with a web 21 which is received within a slot 22 formed longitudinally of the steering member. Flanges 23 and 24 are provided for engaging against the opposite surfaces of the steering member.

The fiange 24 may be provided with an eye 25, if desired, for the attachment of a pull string.

The web 21 is apertured and a screw 'or bolt 26 extends through the aperture for retaining the casting against longitudinal movement within the slot. The screw or bolt will serve to strengthen the material of the steerng member and will serve to clamp the same into the pockets formed at opposite sides of the web 21 by the flanges 23 and 24. This structure is similar to that defined in my PatentNo. 12 10226, dated Sept. 18,1917.

Since it is desired that the ears 12 shall fit closely over the ears provided upon the casting 11, and since in the common method of making castings slightvariations inevitably occur, it is part of this invention to provide a neclz-like extension 27 upon at least one of said ears. l/Vhere inaccuracies occur this neck may be quickly and easily filed off to make a proper fit for the parts.

The foot-rest is illustrated by the reference character 28. This is preferably con'- nected to the steering member and its manneriof connection is similar to that of the casting 10. It is provided with a forwardly extending web 29 disposed to engage within the slot 22. A front flange 30 is formed upon the web 29 to rest against the'forward face of the steering member. Instead of an aperture as employed in the casting 10, the web 29 is provided with an extension forming a pocket 31 through which aclamp bolt or screw 32 extends; This screw serves in the same manner as the screw 26 for strengthening the steering member and for clamping the same into the pockets formed at the opposite sides of the fiange 29. i

The ob 'ect of employing a pocket, as 31, is for the purpose of facilitating assembling The inaccuracies common to an of the parts. The pocket renders it posi pocket. The casting forming the foot-rest may be slid upwardly or downwardly along the slot 22 in order to bring the pocket to receive the point of the screw.

The front wheel, as 33, is mounted within the slot 22, said slot of course being broadened at its lower end to receive the wheel in the same manner as in my .co-pending application above referred to.

It will be apparent that in some cases the foot-rest may be formed as an integral part of the casting 10, if desired. Such modification is illustrated in Fig. 8. In this figure the vertical portion 3& indicates the corresponding part of the casing 10 and the horzontal portion 35 indicates the foot-rest.

In Figs. 9, 10 and ll, I have illustrated an improved means for connecting the handle grip to the upper end of the steering member. This means includes forming the upper end of the steering member with an arcuate concaved surface 36 for receiving the convexed surface portion of the handle grip 37. The arc of the surface 36 is of less radius than the arc defined by the portion of the handle grip, which is intended to engage the surface 36. A screw 38 extends through the handle grip and longitudinally into the upper end of the steering member. As the screw moves downwardly the handle grip is brought into engagement with the eX- treme end portions 39 of the surface 36, as shown in Fig. 10, and as the screw is driven home the portions 39 are caused to press rmly against the engaging portions of the handle grip, in fact 'the portions 39 are slightly spread in some cases, as shown in Fig. 11. This naturally provided a very rigid and substantial connection.

As many changes could be made in this Construction without departing from the scope of the following claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the class described, comprisng a platform member and a steering member, means connecting said members together permitting movement of the steering member relatively to the platform member for steering the device, the steering member having a slot formed longitudinally thereof, and a foot rest having a part fixed within said slot and having parts projecting at opposite sides of the steering member to be engaged by the feet of an operator.

2. A device of the class described, com prising a platform member and a steeringmember, means connecting said' members together permitting movement of said steering member relatively to said platform member for steering the device, the steering member having a slot extending longtudinally thereof, a wheel rotatably mounted at one point inthe length of said slot, the connecting means comprising in part an element fixed within said slot at another point in the length of said slot, and a foot-rest having a part projecting into and fixed within said slot at a point in the length thereof intermediate said wheel and said connecting means element.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

t JOHN KUNST. VVitnesses:

L. Gnssron HANDI, EMMA WEINBERG.. 

